Machine for operating on heels



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L. A. CASGRAHN MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON HEELS Nov. 27 1923.

Original Filed March 3. 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1923.

L. A. CASGRAIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON HEELS Qriginal Filed March 3. 1917 4 Sheets-$heet 5 11 a Zuni hi 4 6 I. I I Q I I n F I l I I n n w w Nov. 27

L. A. CASGRAIN MACHINE FOR OPERATING; 0N HEELS Original Filed March a,

1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

ETED STATES PATENT LOUIS A. CASG-RAIN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- IVIENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COR?ORATION, OF PATERSON, NEN JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON HEELS.

Application filed March 3, 1917, Serial No. 152,391. Renewed April 29, 1922. Serial No. 557,423.

To all to 7mm 2'25 may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS A. CASGRAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Operating on Heels, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for treating heels and particularly to machines for breastino heels before they are attached to boots or shoes.

Under modern manufacturing conditions there is an increasing demand for machines for breastingunattached heels, it having been found expeditious and otherwise desirable to breast certain types of heels, for example. broad low heels such as are used on mens shoes and particularly boots and shoes intended for military purposes, before they are attached. By this method all danger of injury to the shank of the shoe during the hreasting operation is obviated.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for this purpose which will produce Work of better quality and in larger quantity than heretofore and one which may be arranged to 0perate automatically on heels supplied to it from a magazine.

Frequently the cut of the breasting knife does not leave the heel breast as smooth as is desired and considerable buffing is necessary to give the heel breast the proper finish. This is due to conditions present more particularly in the case of heels composed of separate lifts, especially leather lifts, being occasioned by the non-homogeneous character of such heels. The knife is arranged with the bevel of its edge on the side next the chip and, therefore, as the knife cuts into a lift the pressure of the portion of the lift being removed against the bevel of the knife increases until that lift is severed, this pressure causing the knife to be sprung slightly toward the rear of the heel. lVhen the lift is severed. however, the pressure is relieved and the knife springs hucl to its original position and begins its but on the next lift in a plane a little forward of the lower edge of the lift just breasted. The result is ajheel breast which has a rough or stepped appearance and which requires considerable scouring to render it smooth. If, however, a thin shaving is removed from the heel breast by a repetition of the breasting operation the heel breast will be smooth and will require little or no bufling.

A feature of this invention consists, in combination with means for breasting a heel, of means for advancing the heel a short distance after the first cut so that a second operation of the breasting means will remove a thin chip or shaving from the breast and produce a smooth breast requiring little or no finishing. As shown herein, feeding means operated by movement of a knife carrier is providedfor advancingthe heel from the feeding position to a position beneath the knife for the first cut, and means operated by the next movement of the knife for advancing the heel slightly for a second cut.

Another feature of the invention consists in the combination with breasting means, of a magazine to contain heels, a stationary cutting block, and means acting substair tially positively to feed the lowest heel in the magazine along the block and to position it for the operation of the breasting means. The arrangement is preferably such that a breasted heel is expelled from the machine by the movement of the next heel into position to be breasted. As shown herein, the cutting block may be provided either with a flat surface for use when the heels are breasted with the tread face in contact with the cutting block or with a convex surface to accommodate the concavity of the heel seat of the heel when the heels are breasted with the heel seat face in contact with the block, suitable adjustments being provided for so varyin; the angular relation of the cuttingblock to the plane of movement of the knife that heels may be breasted with an acute angle between the tread and breast faces whether the heels are breasted with their tread faces or with their seat faces uppermost.

In its broader aspects features of the invention are to be recognized'in means for performing a plurality of operations upon unattached blanks such as heel blanks, for example stock removing operations, with means for automatically presenting a succession of blanks to the operating means, preferably from a source of supply such as a magazine. As herein shown the blanks are intermittently fed in succession along a support to the cutting means by a pusher and the cutting means operate to effect a plurality of related cuts on each heel to prepare it for attachment to the shoe.

Still another feature of the invention consists in an organization including breasting meansandmeans for supporting heels along which heels are fed to the breasting 'incans, with means arranged adjacent to the supporting means for effecting separation of the chips and heels as they leave the support. As shown herein, means, for example a chute, is arranged below the supporting means to receive the chips remover. by the breasting means, and conducting means, whirh may be another chute, is arranged in spaced relation to the supporting means to receive heels when pushed from beneath the breasting means and off the supporting means.

Other features of the invention consist in a novel construction of the magazine and in the combination with breasting means. a magazine. a heel support, and means for feeding heels from the magazine to the knife, of means for clamping the heels on the support after they are fed and during the operation of the knife, the organization being such that in each power effected cycle of operations of the machine a heel is fed, then clamped and then breasted. Preferably the forward end of the heel is positioned laterally during its movement to ward the knife before it is clamped. To this end yielding pressers are arranged as shown to bear on the sides of the heel near its breast end. The pressers may be ar ranged for equal and opposite movementand may co-operate with inclined faces on the feeding means to locate the heel definitely both lengthwise and transversely with respect to the knife.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of the upper portion of a heel breasting machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the upper portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of tne heel magazine and portions of the feeding mech-- anism;

Fig. 4 i a section of unbreasted heel;

Fig. 5 is a section of a heel which has been once breasted and shows in an eXag gerated manner the appearance of a stepped breast;

Fig. 6 is a section of the heel after the second breasting operation;

7 is a side view of the machine as modified for breasting heels with their tread faces uppermost;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the relation of certain parts of the machine; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of a heel which is being breasted with its tread face uppermost to the convex surface of the cutting block.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the frame of the machine is indicated at 2. In the frame 2 the knife carrying slide 4 is mounted for vertical reciprocation, being connected by the usual connecting rod 5 to a crank on a rotating shaft (not shown). For applying power to the shaft a repeating one-revolution clutch is provided and a latch is preferably arranged for holding the treadle down when continuous oper' tion of the machine is desired. The knife 6 is held in a clamp 7 on the carrier 4: and is adjustably held against longitudinal movement by abutment screws 9.

A vertically rigid table 10 carries a block 12, preferably of wood, for supporting the heel beneath the knife 6. The block 12 is preferably arranged, as shown, so that the knife will out directly against its upper surface. The table 10 is pivoted at 1 1 to a support 16 on centers which lie in the vertical plane traversed by the knife edge. The support 16 is firmly upheld by a post 18 on the machine frame. Adjusting means, comprising a set screw 20 on the table and a slot 22 in the support 16, are provided to permit upward or downward tilting of the right hand end of the table 10 and block 12 to vary the inclination of the cut made by the knife on the heel supported on the block 12'. Since the upper face of the block 12 coincides with the center of the pivots 1 1 the adjustment of the block 12 does not vary the position of the edge of the block relatively to the knife. If the heels are being breasted with the heel seat face uppermost, the right hand end of the table 10 (Fig. 1) may be adjusted above the horizontal to produce the usual acute angle between the breast and tread faces of the heel. with the tread face uppermost, the table 10 may be adjusted below the horizontal position to produce he same effect. The latter position of the heel being breasted, however, has the advantage that the corner of the top lift next to the breast face is cut more smoothly than when it lies neXt to the cutting block.

A bracket 30 is supported. on the post 18 and extends upwardly on one side of the table 10. To the upper portion of this If the heels are being breasted bracket is secured magazine adapted to contain heels. This magazine comprises corner pieces 32 which guide the front corners of the heel and guides 34 for the rear curved portions of the heel. The guides 3 1 are held in split clamps 36 for vertical and lateral adjustment to the size of the heel being breasted. The guides 32 are also mounted for vertical adjustment to the height of heel and for lateral adjustment to the width of the heel. This is effected by means shown in Fig. 2. The guides 32 are provided with longitudinal counter-sunk slots 37 in which are located the flattened heads of bolts which pass through lateral or horizontal slots 10 in the bracket 30. The magazine may be so adjusted by means of the slots 40 as to taper slightly from top to bottom and the parts 32 are flared at the top to permit ready insertion of the heels, a number at a time.

The stack of heels rests on a feeder plate 52 which is reciprocated to-and-fro upon the block 12 to feed the heels beneath the knife. The forward end of the plate 52 has a V-shaped notch in it and when the plate is moved away from the knife to its limit of movement the stack of heels in the magazine drops down, the lowest heel then lying in the path of movement of the plate as it is moved forward toward the knife. The V-shaped notch acts to center the curved rear portion of the heel laterally. To center the forepart ofthe heel two lingers 5 1 are provided. The lingers have stems 56 (Fig. which extend downwardly through the table 10 and on the lower ends of the stems 56 are interengaging toothed segments 58, 60 to effect equal and opposite movement of the fingers as the heel is pushed between them. The fingers are urged toward each other by spring 62 connected between pins 64:, 66 on the table 10 and on the segment 60, respectively, and the amount of separation of the fingers when no heel is between them is determined by the adjustment of a screw 68 which is threaded through a lug 69 on the table 10 and against which a lug 70 on the segment 58 abuts when no heel. is between the fingers.

Means is provided for clamping the heel during the operation of the knife which consists of a bar having cylindrical portion 79 guided through a projection 81 from the bracket 30 and a flattened upper portion which slides between friction blocks 82 mounted on the knife carrier 1. The bar 80 is frictionally held betw en the blocks 82, one of which is moved towards the other by means of a spring 8 1., the tension of w ich may be varied by a screw plug 86 which backs up the spring. When the knife descends, the bar is carried down by the fric-.

tion against it of the plates 82 until a clamping member 88 carried by the bar engages the heel, or if no heel is in the machine until an adjustable clamp collar 90 strikes the projection 81. After the clamp 88 engages the heel the bar 80 slips between the blocks 82 and holds the heel clamped against the block with uniform pressure during the descent of the knife. W hen the knife begins to ascend the friction blocks 82 immediately lift the clamping member 88 away from the heel as far asis permitted by an adjustable clamping collar 92 which engages the lower side of the projection 81, the bar 80 slipping between the blocks 82 during the remainder of the upward movement of the knife.

The plate 52 is reciprocated by movement of a (shaped arm 96 pivotedon a shaft 98 and having the arms of the Y connected by links 100 to the plate The shaft 98 is journaled in projections 102 10s extending respectively from the support 16 and from the bracket 30 and is frictionally held from undesired movement by a spring 99 located between -a nut on the end of the shaft 98 and the projection 102. On the shaft 98 is loose ly mounted an arm 106 in which is journaled a stud 108 through which is threaded a screw 110 having a collar 112 which abu against a lateral projection on an arm 11% forming part of the arm 96. A compression spring 116 on the screw 110 bears against the outer side of the arm 11 1 at one ens. and against a thumb nut 120 of the screw 110 at the other. Outside of the thumb nut 120 is a set nut 123. W hen the nut 128 is set tight a 'ainst the thumb nut 120 the thumb nut is fixed to the screw 110 which may be turned by the thumb nut through the stud 108 to vary the relative positions of the arms 114: and 106 and thereby adjust the forward or heel feeding movement of the plate To vary the tension of the spring116, theset nut 123 may be loosened and both nuts 120 and 123 turned on the screw 110. The outer end of he arm 106 is bifurcated and has a pin 122 lying in a slot 124 of an operating}; link 126 which is pivoted at 128 to the knife carrying slide 1. The slot is provided with a shoulder 130 which willengage the pin 122 when the link 126 is held down and toward the left 1). Under these con ditions when the knife is reciprocated the shoulder 130 will, upon descent of he slide 4, move the arm 106 clockwise and the arm through the stud 108,- screw 110 and collar 1.12 will communicate similar movement to the arms 11% and 96. the latter through the links 100 moving the plate 52 rearwardly beyond the stack of heels in the magazine, whereupon the stack of heels will drop and the lowest heel will assume a position in front of the plate 52 to be fed forward by it upon upward movement of the knife carrying slide 4. Then the slide moves upwardly, however, the link 126 ismoved upwardly and outwardly by mechanism to be described, and the pin 122 will enga e the lower inner corner 182 of the slot and move the plate 52 and heel forwardly into posititon for the first cut to be made upon the breast. When the knife descends for this operation, the pin 122 will lie in the longer portion of the slot 121- and no movement will be given to the plate 52 or heel. As the knife returns, however, the link 126 is thrown back to the position of Fig. 1 and the pin 12" will be engaged by a screw 13a extending into the slot and will cause the plate 50 and heel to be moved toward the knife a short distance, depending upon the amount the screw 134 projects into the slot. Upon the next descent of the knife a'thin chip will be removed from the heel already once breasted and the shoulder 130 will again en age the pin 122 and move the plate 52 back in position to receive another heel in front of it.

For moving the link 126 in the time relation described, the following mechanism is provided: A spring 1 10 has its upper end located between two pins 14l2 on a short arm 14 1 extending from the link 126 below its pivot 128. The lower end of the spring 140 is rigidly fixed to one arm 1 16 on an angle lever pivoted at 148 to the knife carrying slide. The other arm 150 of the angle lever is forked to form projections 151, 152 which have recesses or indentations 153 on their inner faces. Between the projections 151, 152 is a roll which is mounted eccentrically on a disk 156, the latter being centrally pivoted on the slide 4. The disk 156 has two ratchet teeth 157 on its periphery located 180 apart. Back of the disk 156 and mounted loosely on the same pivot as the disk is a toothed segment 158 which carries a pawl 160 actuated by a spring 162 to en gage either one of the teeth 157 and rotate the disk 156. The toothed segment 158 engages a fixed rack 16 1 on the machine frame. As the knife slide moves up and down the toothed segment 158 is rotated by engagement with the rack 16-1 one half revolution at least at each stroke and the pawl 160 carried by the segment engages one of the teeth 157 and rotates the disk 156 180 at each downward stroke of the carrier. This causes the roll 154: during one downward stroke of the knife carrier to press downwardly on the projection 151 and upon the next downward movement of the carrier to press upwardly on the projection 152, the roll being held frictionally in either posititon by the engagement of one of the indentations 153 on the projections.

Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. l, the roll 15% by pressing downwardly on the projection 151 has rocked the angle lever 150, 1 16 so as to cause the spring 1 10 to be bent toward the left and the link 126 to be forced in the same direction,

that is, downwardly and inwardly, so that the outer side of the slot 124 will bear on the pin 122. Upon descent of the knife carrying slide the shoulder 130 of the slot will engage the pin 122 early in its movement and the arm 96 will be moved outwardly and through the connections 100 will move the plate 52 outwardly beyond the magazine of heels and permit a heel to drop in front of it. During the downward reciprocation of the slide 4;, however, the disk 156 has been rotated 180 and the roll 154 now presses upwardly on the projection 152, thereby changing the direction of the tension on the spring 140 so that it now tends to swing the link 126 outwardly andupwardly. lVhen the knife carrying slide moves upwardly the corner 132 of the slot will engage the pin 122 and feed the heel forward under the knife through the spring 116 which will yield should the heel catch for any reason.

and prevent injury to the heel or the machine. During the next downward movement of the knife carrier the breast portion of the heel projecting beyond the knife is cut off and since the pin 122 lies in the long part of the slot 124, the link 126 moves idly. During this movement the direction of ten sion of the spring 1&0 is again shifted and the link 126 swings downwardly and inwardly so that when the knife carrier has nearly reached its upper limit the adjustable screw engages the pin 122 and moves the arm 96 slightly to feed the heel forward in position for a second or finishing out which is made in the next descent of the knife, the plate 52 being retracted to en and feed forward another heel when the knife descends to perform the second operation upon the first heel.

A the second heel is fed forward it pushes the first heel before it across the space between the cutting block 12 and a chute 170 down which it slides to a suitable receptacle. The chips removed from the heel, however, cannot span the space between the block 12 and the chute 170 and, therefore, drop into a lower chute 172 by which they are conducted from the machine.

In the operation of the machine the operator has only to keep the magazine filled with heels to remove the heels from beneath the chute 170 and the chips from beneath the chute 172. The machine automatically pushes forward the lowermost heel in the magazine into a position on the cutting block 12 with a portion of its breast end eX-' tending beyond the knife 6. The knife reciprocates and removes the breast portion of the heel, the heel being held in clamped position (hiring the cutting operation by the clamp 88. Upon the return stroke of the knife the heel is released and fed slightly forward and upon the next descent of the knife a thin shaving is removed from the heel, the heel being again clamped by the clamp 88. During the second downward movement of the knife to efiect the finishing cut, the feeder 52 has returned to position to receive the next heel which, upon the return of the knife after the second cut, is fed forward and pushes the first heel across the gap between the block 12 and the chute 170 and into the chute, the chip falling" into the chute 172.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is shown a modified construction which is especially adapted for breasting heels when they are arranged with their tread faces uppermost. As is well known, the heel seat face of the heel is usually formed with a depression to enable "t to fit upon the convex heel seat. This depression is, of course, approximately spheri eally curved at the rear part and substantially cylindrically curved at the front part. In breasting heels with their tread faces up permost, it is, therefore, important properly to support the opposite or seat face of the heel at that part, that is at the forepart where it is cylindrically curved, to oppose the action of the knife in removing a chip from the breast end. For this purpose the cutting block is given a convex cutting face substantially cylindrical in transverse curvature and adapted to fit the concave form of the forepart of the depression in the average heel. It is found that the curvature varies but little with the size of the heel and that a single block will accommodate heels of substantially all widths. At the rear the heel does not fit the" block but the edge of the depression at the rear of the heel seat face rests ubstantially tangent to the curve of the blockv The effect of this is to tilt the heel slightly toward the knife so that if the block were horizontal the knife would form the breast at an obtuse angle to the tread face. The breast, however, should be either at a right angle or at an acute angle to the tread face. Accordingly, provision is made for adjustment of the outer end of the cutting block downwardly for the purpose, not only of counteracting the tilt of the heel but to enab e the heel. by further adjustment of the block to be breasted at any desired acute angle to the tread face. The convexity of the cutting block 12 is best shown in Fig. 8, the feeder plate 52' being shown in that figure as having is lower face concaved to fit the upper surface of the plate 12. This for mation of the plate. however, is not essential. The slot 22 is sufliciently long to permit the outer end of the block to be adjusted downwardly about the pivot 14: to enable the breast of the heel to be cut at an acute angle to the breast face. Graduations are shown as provided adiacent to the slot 22 which coopera e with an indicating finger 178 connected to the pivot 14 and to the clamping screw 20. F or this adjustment of the machine it was found necessary to change the hape of the Y-arm 96 to prevent its coming in contact with other parts of the machine: its function, however, remains the same. When the heels are fed along the block 12 with their tread faces uppermost it is found that there is sometimes an objectionable tendency of the heel to rise from the block. To prevent this, guides 180 (Figs. 7 and 8) are provided which are pivoted at 181 to the sides 32 of the magazine. These guides have an angular cross section (Fig. 8) similar to that of thc corner pieces 32 of the magazine and extend toward the knife 6' in a position so as to be out of contact with the heel, as it is normally fed toward the knife in contact with the block 12', but to prevent the heel from rising a material distance from the block as it is advanced and before it is engaged by the clamp 88. The guides 180 are adjustable about their pivots 181 by reason of-the slot and screw 182 so that they may be made parallel with the upper face of the cutting block 12'.

It will be observed that the knife cuts against the block close to its end. When the portion against which the knife acts becomes worn the block may be moved, endwise farther under the knife to present a new surface beneath the knife. hen the block has been thus advanced so as to bridge too much of the space between the knife and the chute 1'50 the worn end portion of the block may be sawed off, and more of the block used until the outward extension of the l ilock becomes so shortened as not to form a suitable support for the reciprocating feed plate 52, when. a new block must be inserted.

As herein shown, the machine is provided with a flat breasting knife although, of course, the usual curved knife which is convened toward the heel may be used. Obviously the flat knife is less rigid to fiexure longitudinally of the heel than a curved nife and hence it is desirable to provide means for stiffening the flat knife to prevent undue flexing thereof during the breasting operation. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, this means comprises members 186 loosely secured between their ends to the knife carrier 7 by screws 188 and having one end extending downwardly and curved toward the knife to contact with the marginal portion of the knife on the side away from the heel. The ends of the arms 186 are also provided with lips 187 which engage opposite edge faces of the knife. The knife engaging ends of the members 186 are adjusted to bear with the desired pressure against the knife by screws 190 threaded through their upper ends and bearing against the knife carrier 7. The screws 190 are provided with set nuts 192 to lock them in adjusted position. These stiffeners 186 may, of course, be used with a curved knife under conditions where exceptional rigidity of the knife is desired.

A chute 170', as shown in 7, may be provided with a slotted bottom to allow scraps ivhich become detached from the heels they pass into the chute to drop ugh and be separated from the heels which pass out of the end of the chute.

The operation and form of the machine shown 7, and 9 does not differ, except in the respe already indicated, from the operation ah-e y given of the form first described. 7

Having fully described my invention, what claim as new desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l In machine of the class described, the combination of movable breasting heel support, means for moving the breasting means to breast a heel on the support, and means for moving the heel relatively to the breasting means a predetermined distance for a second operation of the breasting means.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating knife, a heel support toward and from which the knife is reciprocated and along which the heel is presented to be breasted by one reciprocation of the knife, and means for advancthe heel a predetermined distance so a finishing cut will be made upon the upon the next reciprocation of the remove a finishing chip from the heel.

5. A machine of the class described having. in combination, a reciprocating knife,

in azine in which heels are placed, automatic means for feeding a heel from the magazine to position beneath the knife so that a thick chip will be removed from the heel, and means for advancing the same heel farther beneath the knife for a second oper ation of the knife.

6. In machine of the class described, the combination with a reciprocating knife, of automatic means for feeding a heel relatively to the knife to cause the knife to remove first a thick chip and then a thin chip. from the heel.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating knife,

a magazine, a feeder, automatic means to move the feeder beyond the magazine to receive a heel therefrom and advance the heel beneath the knife, and means for moving the feeder after the first out of the knife to advance the heel so that a second chip will be removed from the heel upon the next reciprocation of the knife.

'8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a reciprocating knife, a magazine, a feeder, and automatic means to move thefeeder beyond the magazine to receive a heel therefrom and advance the heel beneath the knife, the parts being so constructed and arranged that when the feeder is again actuated to obtain another heel from the magazine and feed it into position the second heel will engage the first heel and push it beneath the knife out of the machine.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a knife, a reciprocating knife carrier, a heel feeder arranged to reciprocate at approximate right angles to the knife, and means operated by the knife carrier for' operating the feeder first through a long heel feeding distance to present the heel to the knife and then through a short heel feeding distance to present the heel to the knife for a finishing cut.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a reciprocating knife, means for feeding a heel into position beneath the knife for the removal of a chip from the breastportion of the heel upon one reciprocation, and'means for advancing the heel beneath the knife for the removal of a second chip from the heel upon the next reciprocation of the knife.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a reciprocating knife, automatic means for moving'the heel into position beneath the knife for the removal of a thick chip from the heel, and automatic means acting prior to the neXt descent of the knife for feeding the heel a shorter distance beneath the knife for the removal of a thin chip from the heel.

12. A machine ofthe class described having, in combination, a reciprocating knife, a magazine adapted to contain heels, means for taking the heel from the magazine and presenting it to the knife in position for the removal of a breasting chip by the knife, and means for again advancing the heel beneath the knife prior to its next descent for removing another chip from the same heel.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a reciprocating breasting knife, a magazine adapted to contain heels, heel feeding means arranged fer rcciprocatin'g movement beneath the mega zine adapted when moved to take the lowermost heel from the magazine and present ill Cir

iii)

it in position under the knife, and means for reciprocating the knife and feeding means in such timed relation that upon one. reciprocation a heel Will be fed and breasted and upon another reciprocation the same heel Will be fed and breasted again.

ll. A machine of the class described having, in combination, areoiprooating breastin knife, a magazine adapted to contain heels, heel feeding ineans arranged for re ciprocaiting movement beneath the magazine, and means for reciprocating the feeding: means first through a long distance to take a heel from the magazine and present it to the knife and then through. a shorter distance for a second out by the knife.

15. machine of the class described havin combination, a reciprocating breast-- ina' knife, a magazine adapted to contain heels, heel feeding means arranged for reciprocition beneath. the magazine, and operative connections from. the knife to the feed ing; means for giving alternate long and. short movements tothe feeding means.

11.6. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocating knife, a table for supporting unattached heels beneath the knife for the breasting' operation, a chute beneath the table in position to catch and conduct away the chips removed from the heels by the knife, and a second chute spaced from the end of the table and arranged to receive breasted heels When pushed beneath the knife and off of :the table.

17. A. machine of the class described having, in combination, a reciprocating knife, a table for supporting an unattached heel, a magazine adapted to contain heels, means for feeding heels one-by-one from the zine into position beneath the knife to be breasted thereby, achute in position beneath the table adapted to catch and carry away the chip removed from the breast by the knife. and. a second chute spaced from. the end of the table and arranged to receive a breasted heel when the heel is pnshd off the table by the next heel fed by the feeding means.

id. in a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating knife er, a breasting' knife on the knife cari'icr. feeding means mounted for reciprocating movement at an angle to the plane of inoi'en'ient of the knife, a slotted link pivoted. on the carrier, and mechanism between the link and the feeding means for giving first a long; movement to the feeding means and then a. short movement.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating knife carrier, a breast-ing knife on the carrier,

"feedin means mounted for reci rocatin I) b movement at an angle to the plane of move ment of the knife, a link plvoted to the carrier at one end and provided at its other end with a slot, and operative connections between the feeding means and. the slotted end of the link for causing the link first to give a long movement to the feeding". means to carry a heel into breasting position beneath the knife and then a short movement for advancing; the heel further beneath the knife for a second breasting operation.

20. in a machine of the class described, the combination of recipi ating knife carrier, a brcastinp; knife on the carrier, feeding means mounted for reciprocating movement at a angle to th planeof movement of the knife, a link pivoted to the ca; flier at one end and provided at its other end with. a slot having a long part and a short part, operative connections between the feeding" means and the slotted end of the link, a stationary rack, a pinion on the carrier meshing with. the rack. and means operatedxbythe pinion for moving the link to cause first one part of the slot. to be enby the operative connections to the heel feeding means and then the other part of the slot to be so engaged.

21. In amachine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating knife carrier, abrcasting knife on the carrier, 12 means mounted for reciprocating mo ement at, an an ale to the plane of movement of the knife, a link pivoted to the c=arrier atone end and provided at its other end with a slot having; a long part and a short part, a spring connected with the link, and. means operated by movement of the carrier to tension the spring first in one direction and then the other to render the two parts of the slot alternately operative to vary the feed movement of the feeding means.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating carrier, a knife on the i827, feeding means movable between work. receiving; and Work presenting; position, means for operating the feeding means to advance the work from Work receiving position to Wor presenting; position beneath the knife for one operation of the knife, means permitting the operating means to operate the feeding. means a short distance to advance the W0 1: farther beneath the knife. means for rotiactintr the feedingmeans, and means for permitting the retraction: means to remain rle during the next operative movement of the knife.

23. .ln a machine of the class described, the r-oml'iinafion of means for breasting a heel, and an natic means for advancing a heel after the hreasting operation beneath the breastingineans to position the heel. for a finishing cut by the breasting means.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for breasting a heel, means for advancing the heel to the knife for the breasting operation, and means for advancing the heel again to the knife a less distance to enable the breasting means to effect a finishing cut upon the breast.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination of breasting means, a convex cutting block along which heels are fed with their seat faces in contact with the block, a magazine adapted to contain heels to be breasted means for feeding heels from the magazine to the breasting means, and means for preventing the heels from rising substantially from the block in their movement from the magazine to the breasting means.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of breasting means, a stationary block along which heels are fed for the operation of the breasting means, a magazine adapted to contain heels to be breasted, and substantially positive means for feeding the heels from the magazine to the breasting means which positive means is constructed and arranged to yield only under strain in excess of that required in the normal operation of the machine to prevent breakage of parts.

27. A machine of the class described having, in combination, breasting means, a cutting block along which heels are fed into position beneath the knife, the machine being constructed and arranged to afford a clear passage of the heel beyond the knife after it is breasted, a magazine adapted to contain heels to be breasted, and means for feeding heels fromthe magazine toa predetermined position beneath the breasting means and so arranged that when a second heel is fed the breasted heel will be pushed beneath the knife and out of the machine by the second heel.

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a knife carrier, a knife thereon, a heel support, means for effecting relative movement between the knife and the heel support to breast the heel, and members connected to the carrier and arranged to bear against the face of the knife on the side away from the heel and at points adjacent to the side edges of the knife to prevent flexure of the knife during the breasting operation.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a knife carrier, a knife thereon, a heel support means for effecting relative movement between the knife and theheel support to breast the heel, members connected to the (Zlll'lGl' and arranged to bear against the outer margins of a face of the knife near the side away from the heel to prevent flerure of the knife during the hreasting operation, and means so arranged that. the bearing pressure of the members against the knife may be adjustably varied.

30. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of breasting means, a. magazine adapted to contain heels, means for feeding the heels one-by-one from the magazine to the breasting means, and guiding mean mounted out of contact with the heels in their normal path of movement toward the breasting means and in position to pre vent substantial movement of the heels out of that A ath as they advance to the breasting means.

31. In a machine of the class described, the combination of breasting means, a stationary cutting block along which heels are l and with which the breasting means co operates in breastin the heel, a magazine 0 er th block adapted to contain unbreasted heels, feeder for movlng the lowest heel 1n the magazine along the block, and means .actin substantially positively for moving the feeder to position the heel in predetermined relation to the breasting means.

32. In a machine of the class described, the combination of breasting means, a cutting block along .which heels are fed and with which the breasting means co-operates in breasting the heel, a magazine over the block adapted to contain unbreasted heels, and means for moving the lowest heel in the magazine along the block and positioning it relatively to the breasting means and being constructed and arranged to effect expulsion of the breasted heel by movement of the next heel into position to be breasted.

In a machine of the class described, a reciprocating breasting knife, a cutting block having a heel engaging face which is straight longitudinally of the heel and curved transversely of the heel to lit the curvature of the heel sea-t face of the heel at the breast, and means for effecting adjustment of the block relatively to the knife to counteract the pitch of the heel resting on said face and to cause the heel to be breasted at an acute angle to the tread face.

34. In a machine of the class described, a knife, means for supporting heels for the action of the knife, means below the heel supporting means to receive the chips removed by the knife, and conducting means spaced from the supporting means and adapted to receive heels when pushed from beneath the knife and off the supporting means.

In a machine of the class described, a reciprocating knife, a support beneath the knife to sustain heels for the breasting operation, means beneath the support positioned to catch chips falling from the end of the support, and a second means spaced from the support and arranged to receive breasted heels when pushed off the support.

36. In a mach'ne of the class described, a reciprocating knife, a support beneath the knife to sustain heels for the breasting operation, and means located beneath the end of the support constructed and arranged to effect separation of the chips and heels as they fall from the end of the support.

37. In a machine of the class described, the combination of breasting means, feeding means by which heels are presented to the breasting means, and substantially positive power actuated means for operating the feeding means which positive means is constructed and arranged to yield only under strain in excess of that required for the normal operation of the machine to prevent breakage of parts.

38. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for heels comprising upright an gle members to engage the opposite breast corners of the heels, and U-shaped rods having one arm of each pivoted laterally of the heels midway of their length and the other arms arranged to engage opposite sides of the heels where the heels are nar rower than their full width to retain the heels in guiding relation to the angle members.

39. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for individually separate heels comprising angle members to engage the breast corners of the heels in the magazine, split clamps located on each side of the magazine substantially midway of the length of the heels, and U-shaped members each having an arm adjustably held in one of the clamps and the other arm arranged in guiding relation to the rounded rear por tions of the heels in the magazine to hold the heels in guiding relation to the angle members.

40. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for individually separate heels comprising upright angle members to engage the opposite breast corners of the heels, members to guide opposite sides of the heels rearwardly of their middle where they are narrower than full width to retain the heels in guiding relation. to the upright members, and means for frictionally engaging the members to hold them in position.

41. In a machine for breasting heels, the combination of breasting means, means for feeding heels one by one to the breasting means, said feeding means having a V- notch to engage the rounded end of a heel and locate it laterally, and fingers mounted for. movement equally and oppositely, a spring for forcing the fingers against the sides of a heel while it is being fed to the breasting means to centralize the breast end of the heel relatively to the breasting means.

42. In a machine of the class described, a heel support, heel breasting means, a heel feeding slide having a V-notch to engage the rounded endof the heel and operated to locate it laterally to advance the heel toward thebreasting means, pressers connect ed for equal and opposite movement to engage the sides of the heel adjacent to the breasting means as it is fed, a spring acting on the pressers to force them equally against the heel to position the breastend of the heel laterally, means for clamping the positioned heel, and means for operating the breasting means to treat the clamped heel.

43. In a machine of the class described, heel breasting means, a heel support, means for feeding the heel along the support, means engaging the sides of the heel near the breast end for locating the breast end of the heel in predetermined position transversely of its path of feeding movement, and power operated means for then clamping the heel and efiecting operation of the breasting means.

44:. In a machine for breasting heels, the combination of breasting means, a heel clamp, means for feeding heels to the breasting means, fingers arranged for yielding move ment and acting prior to contact of the clamp with the heel to engage the sides of the heel while they are being fed to the breasting means to guide and position the heels relatively to the breasting means, power operated means for operating the clamp to hold the positioned heel and then to operate the breasting means.

45. In a heel breasting machine, the combination of breasting means, means for positively feeding heels to the breasting means,

' and a clamp power operated in timed relation to the breasting means and constructed and arranged to apply substantially the same pressure to heels of different heights throughout the breasting operation.

46. In a heel breasting machine, the combination of reciprocating breastin means, means for positively feeding heels to the breasting means, means for reciprocating the breasting means to breast the heel and a clamp operated by power in timed relation to the breasting means to apply uniform pressure to the heel during the breasting operation and to release the heel as soon as the return movement of the breasting means begins.

47. In a machine for breasting heels, the combination of a breasting knife, a block for supporting the heels, means for feeding heels singly to the knife, means for efiecting relative movement between the block and knife to breast the heel and power operated means including a friction device for clamping the heels on the block during the operation of the knife.

48. In a machine for breasting heels, the combination of a reciprocating knife carrier, a knife on the carrier, a magazine to contain heels, a block for supporting the heels, means for feeding heels singly from the magazine to the knife, a clamp operative to hold the heel on the block and a friction device on the knife carrier for operating the clamp during the operation of the knife.

49. In a machine for breasting heels, a heel feeder, a clamp and a heel breasting knife, and power means to operate the feed er, the clamp, and the knife in succession.

50. In a machine for breasting heels, a reciprocating knife, a heel support, a maga- Zine for maintaining a supply of heels, a feeder for transferring a heel from th magazine to the knife, a clamp to hold a heel on the supp rt during operation of the knife, and power operated means organized to cause the feeder clamp and knife to act in timed relation to feed, clamp, and breast each heel automatically.

51. In a machine for breasting heels, a heel support, a magazine for maintaining a supply of ieels over the support, a. reciprocatingknife, feeder for transferring the lowermost heel in the magazine to the knife, said feeder being constructed and arranged laterally to locate one end of the heel engaged by it, means operating as the heel is fed laterally to locate the opposite end of the heel, a clamp to hold the located heel on the support during operation of the knife, and power means organized to cause the feeder to feed a heel, then the clamp to clamp the heel and then the knife to breast the heel.

52. In a machine of the class described, the combination of breasting means, a heel support, means for relatively moving the breasting means and the support to breast a heel on the support and means for moving the heel relatively to the breasting means a predetermined distance for a second operation of the breasting means.

53. In a machine for treating unattached heels, a breasting knife, a support for an unattached heel, means for relatively moving the support and knife to breast the heel, and means for relatively moving the heel and knife to expose further material of the heel to the action of the knife to be removed by a second relative movement of the heel andknife.

54. In a machine for breasting unattached heels, a heel support and a breasting cutter constructed and arranged for relative movement to effect successive relative traversing movements of the heel and cutter, and means for effecting relative movement between the heel and cutter lengthwise of the heel between said relative traversing movements. 7

55. In a machine for breasting unattached heels, the combination of a heel support, breasting means, means for relatively moving the support and breasting means to cause the breasting means to remove material from the heel breast, and means for relatively moving the breasting means and the support lengthwise of the heel and repeating the operation of the breasting means to remove more material from the breast.

56. In a machine of the class described, heel breasting means, and a heel feeder operative to feed a heel to a predetermined breasting position, said parts being con structed and arranged to cause the breasted heel to be removed from the machine by the next heel fed to breasting position.

57. In a machine for treating heels, a heel support, a heel feeder, a heel clamp and a knife, and power operated means for relatively moving the supportand feeder to feed a heel to the knife, for then relatively mov ing the support and clamp to clamp the heel, and for then relatively moving the support and knife to cut the heel.

58. In a machine of the class described, a

heel support to receive a heel, feeding means having inclined faces to center the rear end of the heel as it is fed, means for engaging the sides of the heel as it is fed to locate the heel laterally, means for clamping the positioned heel, and means for treating the clamped heel.

59. In a machine of the class described, heel breasting means, a heel support, means for feeding the heel along the support, said means having inclined faces to engage and center the rear end of the heel, means for positioning the breast end of the heel in alinement with the breasting means, and power operated means for then clamping the heel and effecting operation of the breasting means.

60. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reciprocating knife, a support on which heels are located for op eration of the knife, said knife andsupport being constructed and arranged to afford free passage of the heels beyond the knife and support, and a feeder for presenting separate heels successively in predetermined position beneath the knife, the feeder acting by reason of the interposition of a succeed.- ing heel to push the breasted heel beyond the knife and off the support.

61. In a machine for treating unattached heels, the combination of a magazine serving as a source of supply of heel blanks, means for performing av series of cutting operations upon the heel blanks, and automatic means for receiving the heel blanks successively from the magazine and presenting the same to said first-named means.

62. A machine for preparing unattached heels comprising, in combination, reciproeating cutting means, means for automatically presenting a succession .of heels thereto, and means for operating the cutting means to make a plurality of related cuts on each heel.

63. A machine for preparing unattached heels comprising, in combination, reciprocating cutting means, means including a magazine and a reciprocating pusher for automatically presenting a succession of heels to the cutting means, and means for operating the cutting means to make a plurality of related cuts on each heel.

64. A machine for preparing unattached heels comprising, in combination, a heel support, cutting means reciprocable toward and from the heel support, means for feeding a succession of heels across the support, and means for reciprocating the cutting means to make a plurality of cuts on the same face of each heel while it is on the support.

65. A machine for preparing unattached heels comprising, in combination, members yieldingly to engage the tread and seat surfaces of an unattached heel, means intermittently to advance heels successively between said members, and reciprocating cutting means to operate on each heel between said members to make a plurality of cuts on the heel.

66. A machine for preparing unattached heels comprising, in combination, members yieldingly to engage the tread and seat surfaces of a heel, a magazine adjacent there to, a reciprocating pusher to feed heels successively from the bottom of the magazine between said members, and cutting means arranged to operate on each heel between said members a plurality of times to make a plurality of cuts on each heel.

67. A machine for preparing unattached heel blanks comprising, in combination, a magazine for a stack of blanks, feeding and supporting means to advance blanks successively from the magazine and present them in position to be operated upon, and a single reciprocating cutter constructed and arranged to make successive related cuts on each blank presented thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS A. OASGRAIN. 

